The Magic of Central Europe

This morning travel to the city of Pilsen. The Pilsner Urquell brewery offers tours, which will impress beer fans and history lovers. You will view the original locations where the famous Pilsner Urquell beer was born 175 years ago, and whose story continues even today. You will learn about the ingredients from which Pilsner Urquell beer is brewed. We will also show you the heart of the brewery, three brew houses from different centuries. The culmination of the tour is a tasting of unfiltered Pilsner Urquell beer in the historical cellars. This beer has inspired more than two-thirds of all of the world’s beers, which still today are labelled as “Pils”, “Pilsner” or “Pilsener”. This afternoon continue to Cesky Krumlov, in Bohemia’s deep south, which is one of the most picturesque towns in Europe. The entire historic centre, centred around the stunning castle and the Old Town Square is a Unesco World Heritage Site like some of Prague but on a much smaller scale and you can walk from one side of town to the other in 20 minutes. Overnight stay in Cesky Krumlov.

After a relaxing morning travel south and cross the Danube and enter Austria to arrive in Salzburg for 2 nights. The Altstadt (Old Town) is classic story book Austria and is burrowed beneath steep hills that still look like it did when Moxzart lived here 250 years ago. Couple this with graceful domes and spires, a formidable fortress and with the mountains behind and you will get to enjoy and appreciate this city, additionally of course associated with Maria and the rest of the Von Trapp Family Singers from The Sound of Music. Overnight stay in Salzburg.

Enjoy a full day in the city and its environs. Visit Mozart's Birthplace, take the funicular railway to The High Fortress and The Mirabel Gardens to bring out your inner Do-Re-Mi. Free afternoon in the city or maybe enjoy one of the many music recitals that are possible in the city. Overnight stay in Salzburg.

After breakfast depart East following the course of the River Danube to Melk to visit the 11th-century Melk Abbey, a vast monastery built high above the town. Gold statuary adorns its domed Abbey Church, and the huge library houses medieval manuscripts. You may recognise it as it was the inspiration for Umberto Eco's novel The Name of the Rose. Perhaps the highlight of the day will be an afternoon cruise on the Danube from Melk to Krems through the UNESCO protected Wachau region. From Krems continue to follow the Danube until arrival in Vienna, Austria's Capital city. Overnight stay in Vienna.

Depart on an extended guided tour to explore the artistic and intellectual legacy that has helped to shape the city associated with Mozart, Sigmund Freud, Gustav Klimt and Beethoven. A local city guide will help explain what can be seen within "The Ring" including The Hofburg, the former principal Imperial Palace of the Hapsburg dynasty which serves today as the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria. Plenty of time is allowed for enjoying a traditional coffee shop and for sampling one or maybe two of the local patisseries, including perhaps Sacher Torte. In the afternoon some groups chose to explore the nearby Schonbrunn Palace (the summer residence of the Hapsburg's), some choose to visit the stables and enjoy a presentation of the riders and Lipizzaner White Stallions of the Spanish Riding School or to enjoy dinner in stunning surroundings to the sound of Mozart or to take a trip out in to the countryside to enjoy a traditional Austrian dinner with wine known as a Heurigen. Overnight stay in Vienna.